• Plan for improving and repairing Staffordshire schools over 2026/27 period approved by Cabinet.

• Capital Programme for Schools 2026/27 will see facility upgrades and building repairs at over 60 schools.

• Improvements also include sustainability upgrades to improve insulation and be better for the environment.

• Stafford-based organisation Baby Bank supports hundreds of families with essential items for babies and young children for free.
• The group relies on volunteers and donations from residents and businesses.
• Family Hubs provide one-stop-shop for a variety of services.

• Plan for improving and repairing Staffordshire schools over 2026/27 period to be discussed at Cabinet on Wednesday 15 April.

• Capital Programme for Schools 2026/27 will see facility upgrades and building repairs at over 60 schools.

• Improvements also include sustainability upgrades to improve insulation and be better for the environment.

• The long-awaited Staffy Trail is expected to generate at least £600,000 for Staffordshire's visitor economy.

• The trail, featuring 10 Staffy sculptures and 40 mystery stops, is expected to attract more than 30,000 visitors.

• Spanning multiple locations, the Staffy Trail will be the first of its kind in the region.

• People are being encouraged to organise their own events to help mark the 10th anniversary of Staffordshire Day.

• This year’s celebrations include the launch of the new Staffy Trail, which aims to draw visitors into town centres.

• Communities, businesses and organisations are urged to submit their events to the Visit Staffordshire website, with promotional material available to download to support participation.

• Libraries across Staffordshire will have their own Helpful Bear cuddly toy for children as part of a county council school attendance campaign

• Helpful Bear helps children express their feelings and has a backpack where children can place worries that they have written down

• The cuddly toy and associated workbooks, also available in libraries, have been used in schools successfully in helping children overcome barriers to learning

Nominations for the 2026 Dignity in Care Awards will open on Wednesday 1 April celebrating the compassion, respect and dedication shown by professional carers of adults. Unpaid Carers will also be recognised at ceremony later this year

• Sixteen adult social care workers and three teams have been recognised for their work in social work
• Over 300 were nominated by their colleagues this year
• The British Association of Social Workers, who run the awards event, has featured their accomplishments online as part of their World Social Work Day celebrations

• More than 2,000 carers have accessed training through new social care learning platform
• The training launched as a pilot in 2025 and has proven to be successful
• The learning portal offers free or low-cost courses and includes e-learning and in-person training sessions

• New county farms policy statement will protect estate land from sale

• County council wants to support local food security

• County farms continue to provide access into the industry for ambitious farmers